Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words. They must be used in their standard and accepted forms. Altering or rearranging idioms often leads to grammatical or communicative errors.
Below are commonly misused idioms UTME students and English learners must master:
1a. Bite more than you can chew.❌
1b. Bite off more than you can chew.✔
2a. The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.❌
2b. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.✔
3a. Half bread is better than none.❌
Half a loaf is better than no bread.✔
4a. An idle hand is the devil’s workshop.❌
4b. The devil makes work for idle hands.✔
5a. Rub minds.❌
5b. Rub shoulders.✔
6. Last but not least, we often say, ON A PLATTER OF GOLD. This expression is an idiomatic expression, and that is not the correct way of saying it. Needless to say that IDIOMS are fixed expression.
Consequently, I would rather you said, ON A SILVER PLATTER.
MORE IDIOMS
7.👉🏼Forewarned is forearmed. ✔️
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. ❌
8. 👉🏼You have made your bed and you must lie on/in it. ✔️
As you make your bed, so must you lie on it. ❌
9. 👉🏼The devil makes work for idle hands. ✔️
An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. ❌
10. 👉🏼Half a loaf is better than no bread. ✔️
Half bread is better than none.❌
11. 👉🏼A trouble shared is a trouble halved. ✔️
A problem shared is half solved. ❌
12. 👉🏼Let bygones be bygones. ✔️
Let bygone be bygone. ❌
13.👉🏼Better the devil you know, than the DEVIL you don’t know. ✔️
The devil you know is better than the ANGEL you don’t know. ❌
14. 👉🏼Beggars can’t be choosers. ✔️
A beggar has no choice. ❌
15. 👉🏼You are fighting a losing battle. ✔️
You are fighting a lost battle.❌
16.👉🏼 Do not bite the hand that feeds you. ✔️
Do not bite the fingers that fed you.❌
17. 👉🏼Any moment/day/time now, schools will resume. ✔️
Any moment from now, schools will resume. ❌
18.👉🏼 My lessons so far have been on a silver platter. ✔️
My lessons so far have been on a platter of gold. ❌
19. DEPLOY YOUR IDIOMS WITH INCH-PERFECT PRECISION!
20. We DINED AND WINED at the event. ❌
21. We WINED AND DINED at the event. ✔️
Please note that WINE AND DINE is an idiom in English. You aren’t allowed to manipulate its form.
Again peruse these:
1. We DINED AND WINED WITH top government officials at the event. ❌
2. We WINED AND DINED top government officials at the event. ✔️
IDIOMS WITH SINGULAR NOUNS
I guess she was pulling my (nonstandard).
I guess she was pulling my leg (standard). If you are pulling someone’s leg, you are teasing them by telling them something shocking or worrying as a joke.
Out of the blues, she announced her resignation (nonstandard).
Out of the blue, she announced her resignation (standard). If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected.
She is the apple of her father’s (nonstandard).
She’s the apple of her father’s eye (nonstandard). If you say that someone is the apple of your eye, you mean that they are very important to you and you are extremely fond of them.
DISTORTED IDIOMS
1. Pot calling kettle black. ✖️
The pot calling the kettle black. ✔️
2. First come, first serve. ✖️
First come, first served. ✔️
3. Live and let’s live. ✖️
Live and let live. ✔️
4. The benefit of doubt. ✖️
The benefit of the doubt. ✔️
5. Bite more than you can chew. ✖️
Bite off more than you can chew. ✔️
GAB
6. CULINARY ENGLISH IDIOMS
She is a brilliant teacher and she knows her (nonstandard).
She is a brilliant teacher and she knows her onions (standard).
She couldn’t finish the task; she is (nonstandard).
She couldn’t finish the task; she is in the soup (standard). If you say that someone is in the soup, you mean they are in trouble.
She got herself over nothing (nonstandard).
She got herself over nothing (nonstandard).
She got herself in a stew over nothing (standard). If someone is in a stew, that person is in a difficult situation that causes them to feel worried or upset.
Sources: Dr Gabs, Madam Eno, Bidemi Gbadamosi & others.
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